| (a) This section applies to all public hunting lands
unless an exception for a specific area and time period is designated
by the executive director or by written permission of the department.
(b) For the purposes of this section, gear, equipment,
and floating conveyances are "unattended" if the person who is responsible
for the gear, equipment, or floating conveyance is not within 200
yards of the gear, equipment, or floating conveyance.
(c) It is unlawful for any person to:
(1) fail to obey regulations posted at the area or
policies established by order of the executive director, fail to comply
with instructions on permits or area leaflets, or refuse to follow
directives given by departmental personnel in the discharge of official
duties;
(2) possess a firearm, archery equipment, arrow gun,
air gun, or any other device for taking wildlife resources on public
hunting lands, except for persons authorized by the department to
hunt or conduct research on the area, commissioned law enforcement
officers, and department employees in performance of their duties;
provided, however, a person may possess a handgun in compliance with
applicable law, including, but not limited to, the provisions of Penal
Code, Chapter 46, and Government Code, Chapter 411, Subchapter H.
(3) camp or construct an open fire anywhere other than
in a designated campsite. On the Alabama Creek, Bannister, Caddo,
Moore Plantation, and Sam Houston National Forest WMAs, this restriction
applies only during the period from the day prior to the opening of
the archery deer season through the day following the close of the
general deer season;
(4) camp for more than 14 consecutive days on the same
unit of public hunting lands, or for more than 21 days in any 30-day
period;
(5) cause, create, or contribute to excessive or disturbing
sounds beyond the person's immediate campsite between the hours of
10 p.m. and 6 a.m.;
(6) establish a camp and leave it unattended for a
period of longer than 24 hours;
(7) disturb or remove plants, wood, rocks, gravel,
sand, soil, shell, artifacts, or other objects from public hunting
lands, except as authorized by the department;
(8) write on, scratch, or otherwise deface natural
features, signs, buildings, or other structures;
(9) fail to deposit refuse in designated containers
or fail to remove it from the area;
(10) consume or be under the influence of alcohol while
engaged in hunting activities, or publicly consume or display an alcoholic
beverage while on public hunting lands;
(11) possess dogs in camp that are not confined or
leashed;
(12) use or possess any type of riding stock or pack
animal on public hunting lands at any time, except:
(A) as may be provided by order of the executive director;
or
(B) by written authorization of the department;
(13) use an airboat within the boundaries of public
hunting lands, except as provided by executive order or by written
permission of the department;
(14) take an antlerless deer during the general open
season on wildlife management areas jointly managed by TPW and the
U.S. Forest Service (Alabama Creek, Bannister, Caddo, Moore Plantation,
or Sam Houston National Forest) unless that person possesses on their
person a U.S.F.S. antlerless permit;
(15) enter a unit of public hunting lands with an equine
or equines, or cause the entry of an equine or equines to a unit of
public hunting lands, unless that person has in their immediate possession,
for each equine in the person's custody or equine that the person
allowed to enter the unit of public hunting lands, a completed VS
Form 10-11 (Texas Animal Health Commission) showing that the equine
has tested negative to an official Equine Infectious Anemia test within
the previous 12 months. The documentation required by this paragraph
shall be made available for inspection upon the request of any department
employee acting within the scope of official duties;
(16) park or leave a motor vehicle unattended anywhere
other than in designated parking areas, if parking areas have been
designated;
(17) use a motor vehicle, off-road vehicle, or ATV
on a road, in an area, or at a time when such use is restricted to
disabled persons, unless the person is in possession of a state-issued
disabled parking placard or disabled license plate or assisting such
a person;
(18) leave personal gear, equipment (including decoys),
or a floating conveyance unattended for more than one hour following
the close of legal shooting hours. This paragraph does not apply to
personal gear, equipment, or a floating conveyance:
(A) within a designated camping area or designated
campsite; or
(B) that is unattended during reserved participation
in a public hunting activity that has been specifically scheduled
by the department; and
(19) engage in any activity not specifically authorized
by order of the executive director or regulation of the commission.
(d) Hunting with Dogs.
(1) Dogs may be possessed and used to hunt animals
and birds on public hunting lands only as provided:
(A) in the "Legal Game Legend" provided for each unit
of public hunting lands in the department publication entitled "Map
Booklet for Public Hunting Lands;" or
(B) by executive order published on the department's
official website.
(2) It is an offense for any person to use a dog to
hunt a bird or animal on public hunting lands except as authorized:
(A) in the "Legal Game Legend" provided for each unit
of public hunting lands in the department publication entitled "Map
Booklet for Public Hunting Lands"; or
(B) by executive order published on the department's
official website.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §65.199 adopted to be effective September 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 5316; amended to be effective July 13, 2000, 25 TexReg 6545; amended to be effective April 29, 2002, 27 TexReg 3568; amended to be effective June 7, 2005, 30 TexReg 3256; amended to be effective July 22, 2013, 38 TexReg 4636; amended to be effective July 17, 2017, 42 TexReg 3542; amended to be effective August 11, 2019, 44 TexReg 4062; amended to be effective May 10, 2022, 47 TexReg 2773 |
